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CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
ACTION ALERT
NYS Proposes Massive Slashes to Environmental Funding
Massive Cuts to Waterfront Revitalization, Parks, Zoos, Recycling; Zero Money for Land Preservation
Last year, the Legislature appropriated $255 million for critical environmental programs that positively affected every New Yorker. This year the Governor proposes to slash funding to $145 million. That’s a cut of over 40% to the state’s environmental budget! For the first time in the history of the EPF, the Governor’s proposal terminated funding for land preservation, essentially halting statewide and local land preservation efforts.
This is an attack on the successful, public-supported EPF. The proposed cuts undermine and in some cases destabilize EPF programs, the EPF's integrity, and its very existence. OUR ENVIRONMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP!
What is the NYS Environmental Protection Fund?
Recognizing 17 years ago the need to establish dedicated environmental funding in good economic times and bad, the NYS Legislature exercised their foresight and created the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to provide a reliable and dedicated source of funding for essential environmental programs in NYS. The EPF invests millions of dollars in every region of the state to protect and restore our shared environment. The EPF funds projects to protect and improve water quality, protect air quality, and conserve critical open space and farmland, as well as sustain important environmental education for our next generation of leaders.
Unprecedented Cuts to the EPF Threaten Our Environment
In good and bad economic times, it is imperative that environmental programs continue to protect drinking water quality, ensure effective municipal recycling programs, preserve open space and protect farmland, and improve water quality of the state’s coastal water resources such as the Long Island Sound, the South Shore Estuary Reserve, the Finger Lakes, and our Great Lakes. Whether you vacation at state parks, swim at New York’s beaches, visit zoos or botanical gardens, enjoy New York’s scenic landscapes, or drink water; the EPF has enhanced your family’s enjoyment of the wonder and beauty in New York and has protected your family’s health. Slashing the EPF budget hurts the economy, increases pollution, and will have long lasting and devastating consequences.
How You Can Help:
Call your NYS Senate and Assembly leaders, and tell them what the EPF means to you and your family. Share your desire for clean beaches, expectation of high quality drinking water, and need for access to state parks, zoos, and aquariums. Let your elected leaders know that you support money for land preservation. Urge your state leaders to oppose cuts to the EPF!
Phone call tips:
- Tell the receptionist your name, town, and zip code.
- Urge your Senate and Assembly leaders to support the environment and local economy by funding the EPF with at least $222 million. Tell them a 40% cut to the environment is unacceptable even in these times.
- Tell them land preservation is an essential component to a healthy NY and should be funded.
- Tell them there should be no new programs, without new money.
- Thank the receptionist for his/her time.
Call:
Honorable John Sampson
Majority Leader
New York State Senate
(518) 455-2701 |
Honorable Sheldon Silver
Majority Leader
New York State Assembly
(518) 455-3791 |
Contact your State Senator through the Switchboard by giving the receptionist your zip code.
(518) 455-2800 |
Contact your Assemblymember through the Switchboard by giving the receptionist your zip code.
(518) 455-4100 |
For more information on the Environmental Protection Fund, please visit: http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/epf.asp.
Thank you for taking action. Together we make a difference!
Sincerely,
YOUR FRIENDS AT CCE
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